Swiss innovation centre CSEM, in collaboration with Dutch deep-tech startup QDI Systems, has developed what is claimed to be the world’s first image sensor to directly convert X-rays into electronic signals using quantum dots (QDs) on a CMOS platform.
This approach enables compact, low-cost, and scalable wide-spectrum imaging—from X-rays through visible to short-wave infrared (SWIR)—with applications ranging from safer medical diagnostics to advanced industrial inspection and intelligent recycling.
The sensor uses a spray-coated layer of quantum dots deposited directly onto standard CMOS chips. This direct-conversion design eliminates the need for bulky scintillators, complex hybrid bonding, or expensive materials like InGaAs, unlocking a new class of lightweight and affordable sensors, according to CSEM.
The sensor was developed under the SWISSMODICS project, led by CSEM and funded by the EU’s Clean Sky 2 program. Originally designed for embedding into aircraft structures to detect internal damage without disassembly, the technology now offers wide-spectrum imaging benefits across multiple industries.
Key technical benefits include direct X-ray detection with high spatial resolution; sensitivity across 400–1300 nm, including visible, near-infrared, and SWIR; and nearly 100 percent fill factor, preserving pixel density and power efficienc.y
By combining quantum dot photoconversion with mass-producible CMOS technology, this sensor bridges performance and affordability in fields where advanced imaging has been cost-prohibitive including portable X-ray devices and mammography systems with reduced radiation dose, non-destructive testing of aircraft components and machinery, and SWIR imaging for crop health monitoring and material sorting (e.g., plastics, fabrics, organics)
“This innovation is a step change for multispectral imaging,” said Nadim Maamari, group leader for Edge AI and Vision Systems at CSEM. “It’s a platform that breaks down cost and size barriers, bringing cutting-edge imaging to markets that couldn’t previously afford it.”
